Method and apparatus for detection of radioactive material

• US 20040113775A1
• Filed: 06/10/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quintell of Ohio LLC
• Original Assignee: Quintell of Ohio LLC
• Inventors: Bohinc, Jerry Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 6,891,470 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.26
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/0075 Passive interrogation for hand, feet or portals G01T1/167; for contaminated surface areas G01T1/169
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/0083 utilizing a network, e.g. a remote expert, accessing remote data or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/0091 detecting special nuclear material [SNM], e.g. Uranium-235, Uranium-233 or Plutonium-239
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/26 Passive interrogation, i.e. by measuring radiation emitted by objects or goods
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/271 using a network, e.g. a remote expert, accessing remote data or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/281 detecting special nuclear material [SNM], e.g. Uranium-235, Uranium-233 or Plutonium-239

Abstract

A radioactive material detection apparatus includes a transmitter, a radiation sensor and a controller. The transmitter is capable of transmitting information in correspondence with a signal. The radiation sensor has a sensor output and is configured to detect radiation over a predetermined period of time. The controller is configured to receive the sensor output from the radiation sensor and to send the signal to the transmitter for transmission.

Claims

1. A radioactive material detection apparatus comprising:

a transmitter capable of transmitting information in correspondence with a signal;

a radiation sensor having a sensor output, the radiation sensor being configured to detect radiation over a predetermined period of time; and

a controller configured to receive the sensor output from the radiation sensor and to send the signal to the transmitter for transmission.

2. The radioactive material detection apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an identification tag electrically coupled to one of the controller and the transmitter, the identification tag being configured to provide identification data to the information being transmitted by the transmitter.

3. The radioactive material detection apparatus of claim 2, wherein the identification tag further includes location data.

4. The radioactive material detection apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an global positioning transceiver electrically coupled to one of the controller and the transmitter, the global positioning transceiver being configured to provide location data to the information being transmitted by the transmitter.

5. The radioactive material detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmitter transmits information using one of radio frequency, infrared, light waves, microwaves, electrical voltage, and electrical current.

6. The radioactive material detection apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a detachable holder configured to releasably attach the radioactive material detection apparatus to an object to be tested.

7. The radioactive material detection apparatus of claim 6, wherein the detachable holder attaches to an object to be tested by one of magnetic attraction, adhesion, mechanical fastening, and suction.

8. The radioactive material detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radiation sensor varies the sensor output in proportion to an amount of radiation detected.

9. The radioactive material detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radiation sensor includes a gamma radiation sensor.

10. The radioactive material detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radiation sensor includes a neutron sensor.

11. The radioactive material detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radiation sensor includes a neutron sensor and a gamma radiation sensor.

12. The radioactive material detection apparatus of claim 1 in combination with:

a moment of inertia test apparatus configured to detect changes in the moment of inertia of an object to be tested.

13. The radioactive material detection apparatus of claim 1 in combination with:

a rotational inertia test apparatus configured to detect changes in the rotational inertia of an object to be tested.

14. The radioactive material detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined period of time is established by a transit time of a vessel or vehicle containing the detection apparatus.

15. The radioactive material detection apparatus of claim 1 in combination with a live being detector configured to detect the presence of a live being within an object to be tested.

16. The radioactive material detection apparatus of claim 1 in combination with a master unit/master module, the master unit/master module comprising:

a receiver configured to receive the transmitted information from the transmitter of the radioactive material detection apparatus;

an indication output; and

a master controller coupled to the receiver and configured to drive the indication output based upon a status of the information received.

17. A portable radioactive material detection apparatus for detecting radiation during shipping, the apparatus comprising:

a transmitter capable of transmitting information in correspondence with a signal;

a radiation sensor having a sensor output, the radiation sensor being configured to detect radiation over a predetermined period of time; and

a controller configured to receive the sensor output from the radiation sensor and to send the signal to the transmitter for transmission.

18. The portable radioactive material detection apparatus of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is mounted to a shipping container.

19. The portable radioactive material detection apparatus of claim 17, wherein the radiation sensor is configured to passively detect radiation over the predetermined period of time.

20. The portable radioactive material detection apparatus of claim 17, wherein the radiation sensor is configured to vary the sensor output in proportion to an amount of radiation detected.

21. The portable radioactive material detection apparatus of claim 17, wherein the radiation sensor includes a gamma radiation sensor.

22. The portable radioactive material detection apparatus of claim 17, wherein the radiation sensor includes a neutron sensor.

23. The portable radioactive material detection apparatus of claim 17, wherein the radiation sensor includes a neutron sensor and a gamma radiation sensor.

24. The portable radioactive material detection apparatus of claim 17, wherein the predetermined period of time is established by a transit time of a vessel or vehicle containing the detection apparatus.

25. The portable radioactive material detection apparatus of claim 17 in combination with a live being detector configured to detect the presence of a live being within an object to be tested.

26. A radioactive material detection system comprising:

a plurality of radioactive material detection apparatuses, each apparatus comprising;

a transmitter capable of transmitting information in correspondence with a signal;

a radiation sensor having a sensor output, the radiation sensor being configured to detect radiation over a predetermined period of time; and

a detection controller configured to receive the sensor output from the radiation sensor and to send the signal to the transmitter for transmission; and

an identification tag electrically coupled to one of the controller and the transmitter, the identification tag being configured to provide identification data or location data to the information being transmitted by the transmitter; and

a master unit/master module comprising;

a receiver configured to receive the transmitted information from the transmitter of the radioactive material detection apparatus;

an indication output; and

a master controller coupled to the receiver and configured to drive the indication output based upon a status of the information received.

27. The radioactive material detection system of claim 26, wherein a first subset of the plurality of radioactive material detection apparatuses are arranged on a first object to be tested.

28. The radioactive material detection system of claim 27, wherein a second subset of the plurality of radioactive material detection apparatuses are arranged on a second object to be tested, the first and second objects to be tested being arranged such that the first subset of the plurality of radioactive material detection apparatuses is capable of detecting at least a portion of the second object to be tested.

29. The radioactive material detection system of claim 26, wherein the indication output is connected to a remote communication system.

30. The radioactive material detection system of claim 29, wherein the remote communication system is one of a cellular system, a wireless computer network, a wired telephonic system, a wired computer network, a satellite system, and a radio system.

31. The radioactive material detection system of claim 26, wherein a plurality of subsets of the plurality of radioactive material detection apparatuses are arranged on a plurality of objects to be tested, the plurality of objects to be tested being arranged such that subsets of the plurality of radioactive material detection apparatuses arranged on adjacent objects to be tested are capable of detecting at least a portion of other adjacent objects to be tested nearest thereto.

32. The radioactive material detection system of claim 26, wherein at least three of the plurality of radioactive material detection apparatuses are arranged on an object to be tested, the at least three radioactive material detection apparatuses being oriented on the object to be tested in a manner that minimizes the distance from any point within the object to be tested to one of the three radioactive material detection apparatuses.

33. The radioactive material detection system of claim 26, wherein the indication output is connected to one of an indicator light, a sound generating device, and a display device.

34. The radioactive material detection system of claim 26, wherein each radiation sensor is configured to vary its respective sensor output in proportion to an amount of radiation detected.

35. The radioactive material detection system of claim 26, wherein each radiation sensor includes a gamma radiation sensor.

36. The radioactive material detection system of claim 26, wherein each radiation sensor includes a neutron sensor.

37. The radioactive material detection system of claim 26, wherein each radiation sensor includes a neutron sensor and a gamma radiation sensor.

38. The radioactive material detection system of claim 26, wherein the lack of an appropriate output signal from a particular radioactive material detection apparatus indicates a problem status with the associated object to be tested.

39. A method of detecting radioactive material within an object to be tested using a radioactive material detection apparatus, the apparatus having a transmitter, a detection controller and a radiation sensor configured to detect radiation over a predetermined period of time, the method comprising the steps of:

mounting the radioactive material detection apparatus to the object to be tested;

sensing at least one of gamma radiation and neutrons over the predetermined period of time; and

transmitting a signal when a predetermined amount of radiation is detected.

40. The method of detecting radioactive material of claim 39, further comprising the step of:

measuring the moment of inertia of the object to be tested so as to determine if the object to be tested contains shielding material.

41. The method of detecting radioactive material of claim 40, wherein when the measured moment of inertia varies by a predetermined deviation amount, the detection controller determines that heavy shielding is being used within the object to be tested.

42. The method of detecting radioactive material of claim 39, further comprising the step of:

measuring the rotational inertia of the object to be tested so as to determine if the object to be tested contains shielding material.

43. The method of detecting radioactive material of claim 42, wherein when the measured rotational inertia varies by a predetermined deviation amount, the detection controller determines that heavy shielding is being used within the object to be tested.

44. The method of detecting radioactive material of claim 39, wherein the sensing step includes sensing both gamma radiation and neutrons over the predetermined period of time.

45. The method of detecting radioactive material of claim 39, wherein the predetermined amount of radiation is an amount of intensity.

46. The method of detecting radioactive material of claim 39, wherein the predetermined amount of radiation is a cumulative value as sensed over the entire predetermined period of time.

47. A method of detecting radioactive material within a plurality of objects to be tested using a master unit/master module and a plurality of radioactive material detection apparatuses, each apparatus having a transmitter, a detection controller and a radiation sensor configured to detect radiation over a predetermined period of time, the method comprising the steps of:

mounting the plurality of radioactive material detection apparatuses to the plurality of objects to be tested;

sensing at least one of gamma radiation and neutrons at each radioactive material detection apparatus and transmitting an initially sensed signal to the master unit/master module;

establishing a background radiation space for the plurality of objects to be tested based upon the initially sensed signals at the master unit/master module;

storing the background radiation space in the master unit/master module or a control center;

sensing at least one of gamma radiation and neutrons over the predetermined period of time at each radioactive material detection apparatus and transmitting a currently sensed signal to the master unit/master module;

establishing a current radiation space for the plurality of objects to be tested based upon the currently sensed signals at the master unit/master module; and

comparing the current radiation space as currently sensed by the radioactive material detection apparatuses to the background radiation space as initially sensed by the radioactive material detection apparatuses in order to identify an anomaly amongst the plurality of objects to be tested.